Stainless Hooks for Galapagos?

[SKK]

I have a deep sea charter fishing business in the Galapagos Islands. As you can imagine, it's a particularly sensitive environment! We are licensed by the Galapagos National Park (GNP) to provide "Artesanal Vivencial Fishing" to tourists (Marlin, Tuna, Wahoo, etc...). Although, to the visitor, it is essentially the same as "Sport-Fishing", the GNP does not like us using that term. There is a sort of logic to their position - It's a long and interesting story and I would be more than happy to go into it further. But, back to the main subject: Stainless Hooks.

During a recent inspection by the GNP, it was suggested that I should be using degradable hooks rather than stainless (there is no regulation on the matter and so I take it to be the inspector's personal opinion). Nonetheless, although I have been researching the issue I have not been able to find consensus on the question of which type of hook is better for the health of the fish (we practice catch-and-release). While some argue that the hook must be rustable, others counter that it is better for a fish to have a stainless hook stuck in its mouth than to have rust leaching through its gills for as long as it takes for the hook to dissolve.

If the IGFA has a position in the matter, I have been unable to discern it.

Do any organizations such as IGFA have official positions or recommendations?

What do you think?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Sean

[Randy Stinchcomb]

I would think Non-S/S hooks for C & R

[Van Wildonher]

I always tend to think that non stainless is better than stainless if there is a chance that you might end up losing the fish with hooks in it's mouth.

However I have no clue, for all we know rusty hooks actually kill fish.

[SKK]

Intuitively, I also assumed that a degradable hook would be better if it had to be left in the fish (which is seldom). But then again, if someone came and stuck a hook through your ear and just left it there, would you rather it rust there (causing who knows what kind of festering or infection) or linger, albeit a nuisance.

Do fish get infections from rusting hooks?

[NightHeron]

Some years ago there was a study done on this exact subject. It was published in either Sportfishing mag ot Saltwater Sportsman and was proven stainless did alot less damage and didnt cause infections as did other degrading hooks.

[SKK]

I would be very grateful if someone could lead me to those studies - I have been looking on the web although I see lots of opinions regarding the use of stainless hooks, normally against them, but none of them refer to actual research. Just because an idea is popular does not mean it has to be correct. It sure looks like the Sun goes round the Earth, so for most of human history, we assumed it must be so.

[Team Karma]

Won't stainless hooks eventually rust also?.....essentially causing the same problem just at a much slower pace?

I know that certain circle hooks intended for practicing catch and release are designed to rust in less than a day which makes me assume that the short period of time would not be harmful (fatal/problematic) for the fish.

Are you talking about hook rigs for lures or live bait fishing?

[Patudo]

I think it's relatively less of an issue with lure hooks as most of the time they can be removed with the appropriate tools (most times all that's needed is a spanner on the end of a broomstick). Bait hooks are more likely to be left with the fish and I'd agree that stainless is the least likely material to cause problems with infection and so on (which of course is why the old dart tags used to have stainless heads) - but none of the popular lightweight circle hooks are made in stainless.

[Team Karma]

I agree about lure hooks being less of an issue, in fact I think SS is the way to go for those because the majority of the time the hooks can be safely removed.

The example given about the hook being left in your ear...I'm not sure which scenario is worse. We now rust causes infections but so do open wounds. A SS hook would permanently keep the wound open until/if it ever fell out.

I like to tell myself that circle hooks rust and therefore dull very quickly, so when a marlin free jumps the hook(s) falls out....Highly unlikely but it lets me sleep at night!

[Patudo]

I remember DeepC doing some tests that showed that the common lightweight circle hooks don't "rust away" anywhere near as quickly as advertised. Maybe someone here can find the link. Besides, if those hooks were made in stainless the cost of a box would probably more than double, and if you're going through the number of hooks they do in Guatemala etc this could get costly. Some of the lighter hooks could probably be bent open on the wire and that could be a good option when using striped marlin class leaders (probably 150 to 200 max) but on lighter leader the mono would likely break from chaffing first.